Readying itself for the ShowEast convention, Hong Kong-based GDC Technology, which provides servers for digital cinemas, has pacted with Christie Digital Systems USA. Christie will provide installation, maintenance and service support for GDC client cinemas in the U.S.

D-cinema is poised for rapid growth following this month's deal between exhibitors group Digital Cinema Initiative Partnership (DCIP) and five Hollywood studios.

GDC has recently been approved by two players in the U.S. D-cinema market. It was awarded "authorized vendor status" by Cinema Buying Group, a buying program for independent theaters administered by the National Assn. of Theater Owners. Meanwhile, its best-selling server has been included in the approved equipment list of AccessIT, one of the global leaders in D-cinema integrated solutions for digital cinema.

There are around 3,700 D-cinema systems in the U.S. and Canada, but that is set to grow by 10,000 in the next three years according to a co-financing plan agreed by DCIP and 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Motion Pictures, Universal Studios and Lionsgate Films.